Game of skill



s sheets-sheet 1 rlllll III R. PETER ETAL `[une 10, 1941.

yGAME oF SKILL Filed March 11, 1958 R. PETER z-:TAL- 2,245,156

GAME oF SKILL Filed March 11, 1958 s sheets-she'et 2 June 1o, 1941.

Jne 10, 1941. R] PETER rs1-Al.`

GAME 0F SKILL Filed March 11, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 sheets-sheet 4f June l0, 1941*. n R. PETER Erm.

GAME OF SKILL Filed March 11, 1938 Jung 10, 1941.

R. PETER FAL .GAME OF SKILL File@ Mal-0h11, 1938 esneets-'sheets @www w o O OOO OOO O. O 0000 o@ OOO@ O O GOO OO O. O 0,00. 000.00 O0 0 @0o. O.

o o O O O O June l0, 1941.v R. PETER lawn.Y 2,245,156

l GAME oF SKILL Filed March 11, 193s e sheets-sheet e iig.

Patented `lune 10,1941

GAME F 'SKILL l Rudolf Peter and Heinz Bial, Vienna, Austria Application Maren 11, 193s, serial No. 195,324

In Austria March 18, 1937 1 Claim.

coin-freed type with automatic delivery of coins, in which provision is made and means provided to enable the player to effect mechanical setting of the apparatus to the various modes of playing the game of roulette (e. g. black or red, odd or even, etc.). y

Two forms of construction embodying the invention are shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 117 show a form of construction in which Y v (ci. 27s-13s) This invention relates to a game of skill of the chutes lil-b5. For this purpose each of the lever arms cl-ci is -articulated to one of a set of ver-` tical rods gL-g5 (Fig. 3) :the lower ends oi which Iorm'the corresponding tops f1-f5.

a coin, the corresponding rod g is moved upwards and the corresponding stop f releases the corresponding turnstile which is then rotated by the a 'roulette ball is set in motion by the insertion of a coin or the like, Figs. 1 and 2 being a front elevation and a section, respectively, While Figs. 3-5 show auxiliary or accessory contrivances.

Figr shows a side elevation, partly in section, a roulette-wheel in the form of a' cylinder, for use in the game according to the invention.

Fig. '7 shows the roulette-cylinder developed in a plane.

Figs. 8-10 show a simplied form of construc- I tion of the invention without the use of roulette balls.

Fig. 8 being an elevational View of the roulettedisc used in this form of the invention, while Figs. 9 and 10 show in elevationand in section, respectively, the parts of the apparatus lcoacting with the roulette-disc and the coin release.

In the front wall of the casing A there are several, for instance ve, coin slots (lL-a5 into which the coins are inserted according to the mode of playing decided on, e. g. into the slot a1 to play black or red," into the slot a2 to play odd or even, into the slot a3 to play a single number, into-the slot a4 toplay the ilrst or second I8, and into the slot a5 for playing ilrst, second, or third dozen. Adjoining, these slots there are chutes lil-b5. Opposite -the open lower ends of these chutes there are disposed levers ,c1-c5 which are normally in the position shown in full lines (Fig. 3), and which are rocked by the descending coin into the position" shown in broken lines. The coin then passes on to one or other ot the runways iL-d5 (Figs. 1 and 2) leading to the coin container (Fig. 1) which is of conventional design.

For each mode oi playing there is provided a separate ball d1--d'5, and each of these balls is situated in a compartment of a turnstile e1-e5 .,(Figs. 2' and 3) formed oi two walls dis- 'pose'd at right angles to each other. In the normal position each of the turnstiles is arrested by a stop JL-,fs adapted to be released bythe corresponding one of the lever arms cL-c5 rocked by a coin dropping down the corresponding one ofthe weight of the ball in the direction indicated by the arrow II (Fig. 3). The bali then enters the corresponding one of a set of shafts ,h1-#h5 (Figs. 1-3) disposed beneath the turnstiles. Opposite the lower ends of these shafts are chambers iL-i disposed on a lever D pivoted at C (Figs. 4 and 5). This lever is capable of being rocked through 180 about the pivot point C by means of a knob E (Fig. 1) provided` on the front wall of a casing A.

, When the lever D is in the upper position which upper position is indicated in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 5 there adjoin the receiving chambers i1.i5 passages 11-7'5 in which the corresponding ball is conducted to the roulette-wheel. The lever D coacts with a. closing plate E' which, when the lever D is in the lower end position, is held by xed stops G1 and C12 against the action of a spring F in such a position that it opens the chambers il-i5 (Figs. 1 and 5), so that the roulette ball set in motion can run into the appropriate chamber. When the lever D is swung into the upper end position the stops G1 and 'G3 release the closing plate E'. This plate consequeritly bears in response to the action of the spring ragainst the adjoining chambers ,iL-i5, thereby preventing the ball present in one of the chambers from falling out. Shortly before the lever D reaches the upper end position the closing plate E' is vso rocked relatively to the lever D by fixed stops H1 and H2 that `,the chambers i1-i5 are opened. Through one of the passages al-yf' the ball then passes to the roulette-wheel.

The roulette-wheel consists, in the constructional example shown in Figs. 1-7, of a hollow cylinder I the transparent end Ilo! which (Figs. 1 and 6) is provided at the edge with numerals as usual, distributed in black and red (Fig. 1).

The cylinder I is divided by partitions 1-15 into iive compartments JlLJs (Figs-2 and 6). In eachoztthese sections Jl--Js of this cylinder there are provided holes K corresponding .to the numerals -1-36. and 0, through which the ball can drop. The arrangement, as the development of the cylinder in .onepi'ane (Fig. 7) shows, is such that on the generatrices of the cylinder When one oi the levers c1-c5 is rocked, on the vdescending of i disc `I1 a hole K is the forward end P" spring O corresponding to the numerals on the numeral provided -in each of the five' cylinder sections. The roulette ball then passes through one of the passages 1'1-15 (Figs. 2 and 6) into one of the five cylinder compartments Jl-J. Adjoining the passages :i1-d5 there are tubes 11-15 which extend almost up to the inner surface of the cylinder I. These tubes are disposed that their outlet orifices" lie Vopposite those holes in the roulette cylinder which are lowermost when the cylinder is considered as being at rest.

The actuation of the roulette-cylinder is effected through the intermediary of a cord L (Figs. 1, 2, 4, and taken over rollers L', the one end of which is attached to the pivot axle of the cylinder, while the other endV is secured to a thrust piece M which is slldable along a semi-circular guide N. Attached to the thrust piece M is a coil spring O the other end of which is secured to a fixed point O'. In the position shown in full lines (Fig. 4). the spring O is relieved of tension. If the thrust member M is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4) along the guide N this' member eventually reaches the upper end position indicated in broken lines, the spring O being thereby tensioned. 'Ihe displacement of the thrust member M is effected by means of a two-armed levertl which is pivoted about P', and or which acting as a driver engages, in the normal position, in a recess M" in the guide. The carrier P" of the lever P bears against the lever D.I IWhen this latter lever is rocked from its lower to its upper end position the lever P is taken along with it and pushes, with its forward end, the thrust member M on the circular guide N in front of it until this member reaches its upper end position. When the parts are in this position the lever P, as' indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4 encounters a ilxed stop or abutment, e. g. the side wall of the casing, and is consequently rocked so that the driver P" releases the thrust member M which then immediately returns along the guide N into the lower end position under the action of the which has in the meantime become tensioned. The cord. L attached to thelthrust member M is thereby pulled and the roulettecylinder set in rapid rotation.

'I'he roulette-cylinder runs on of its own momentum after the spring O has reached the lower end position. For the purpose of applying a braking action to the cylinder there is provided a spring Q operable from the outside by means of a press-button or of a lever, so that the player is able to influence the length of time for vwhich the cylinder runs and consequently is able to influence the result of the game. If the cylinder should happen to come to a standstill in such a position that there is no hole at the point where the tbes Il l discharge the roulette ball would simply strike up against the cylinder wall and could not be conveyed further. 'I o prevent this from happening the spring Q is so constructed that it brushes against the periphery ofthe cylinder and acts so as to cause the cylinder to come to a standstill invariably in such a position that the appropriate holes K are exactly oppositeV the conduits l l, so that the ball is certain to escape through one of the holes.4

The setting of the apparatus to the selected mode of playing is effected by means of the dials #-115 (Fig. 1) provided on the front wall of the casing. .Corresponding to the significance ol the Y dropping through the shaft,

- pipe ul-u into the corresponding one of the three dozens).

amarte able, the dial n4 two settings (for the irstandA second 18). and the dial n three settings (for The setting dlalsare severa set of ratchet discs ol-o" (Fig. 3) which coact with a corresponding set of pawls pil-p5. Each of these pawls extends with its outer end through a slot into the corresponding one of the shafts )L1-h5, so that the ball, on

encounters the apthe corresponding ally connected with propriate pawl and releases ratchet disc. The dial for the mode of playing selected by the player can 'then be operated. Rotation of any one.of, the setting dialsv shifts the appropriate one of the set` of vertically guided rods ql-q5 (Fig. 3) which are severally operated by the ratchet discs 01-05 through the intermediary of eccentrics r1-r5. To the upper end of each of the rods ql-q5 there is articulated a bell-crank lever sil-s5 (Fig. 3) having a longitudinal slots s there engages a horizontally guided rod t to the free end of which there` adloins a hose- Each of these hose-pipes discharges the chutes Ici-lc5 leading to the turnstiles e1-e5.l When one of the setting dials is operated the upper end of the corresponding one of the connecting hose-r pipes uLus is shifted through the intermediary action ofthe rods c and t. Beneath the roulettecylinder (Figs. 2 and 6) there is a set of catching funnels 121-05 adjoining which thereare conduits uil-w5 which likewise discharge into the chutes icl-R5 above the corresponding turnstiles Thus irrespective of whether the upper end of one of the hose-pipes itl-a5 is situated opposite the corresponding lowermost hole in the roulette-cylinder through which the bali drops, or not, the ball is able to find its way to the appropriate turnstile by travelling either through one of the hose-pipes ul-u or through one of the funnels v1'v5 zul-w. Y The m'ode of operation of the device is as follows:

It is assumed that "black or red. the slot al. The coin rolls down the chute b1,

the player wishes to play slot s. In each of these longitudinal vand one of' the conduits,

He therefore inserts the coin in drops on to the lever c1 thereby releasing the turnstile e1 which is then rotated by the weight of the ball which proceeds to drop through the chute h1 into the catching chamber i1. On its way to the catching chamber the ball deilects the pawl 'p1 extending into a slot in the chute h1, with the result that the setting dial n1 is released. If the pawl is returned into the locking position.

(2) The chambers il-f-i are closed, in that the closing vplate E' is moved out of the path of the stops G1 andfG* and brought by the spring F into the position of closure.

(3) Shortly before the lever D reaches its upper end position the chambers il--f are opened* again in the described manner, so that these chambers come opposite the passages 1'1--9'5 and the ball can enter the latter.

(4) The roulette-cylinder I is set in rotation in the already described manner.

In the meantime the ball is conducted through one`of the passages 7'1-7'5, inthe present instance through the passage 9'1, andthe chute k1 up to `the inner surface of the cylinder Where it re- There are then two possibilities: if the passes into the hose-pipe u1 appropriately posii tioned by the setting of the dial nl to red. If on Ithe other hand the hole is one corresponding to a black number the ball drops into the funnel v1. In either case theV ball passes into the connecting'conduit k1 and thence again on to the turnstile e1.

Thuswhen the ball rolls into the hose-pipe u1l the player has won, and the coins must then be 'delivered automatically. This is effected by caus- ,l ing the ball, after dropping down the hose-pipe u1 to displace a lever X (Fig. 3) which extends with a pawl X into a slot in the chute El, and which is displaced by the weight of the falling ball. The coin discharge lever X liberates, in a manner known in coin-freed devices, a Maltese cross Y which then liberates the appropriate number of coins from the coin container B. In the meantime the lever D returns in response to the action of the spring Z (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) into its initial position.

If the player plays a single number (coin inserted into slot a3, and operation of setting dial therefore also to the hole through which the actuv ally playedball passes.

Referring now to the constructional example shown-111 Figs. 8 to 10, in place of the roulettecylinder, is aroulette disc R. having the numbers 1 to 36 and zero inscribed on alternately coloured sectors and mounted in the front wall of a casing (not shown) similarly to casing A in Figure 1. As in the previous embodiment, a number of coin slots a1, a2 are providedin the front surface or wall yof'such casing, adjoining each of which there is a chute. Of these coinchutes only one chute I is shown (Fig. 9) of which it is assumed that it leads to a'slot provided 1 for usewhen playing a single number. Into the l chute I thereextends one end of a lever'3 articulated at 2 and retained by a spring 4 in the position shown inl full lines. On the other end of the lever 3 there is a lug 5 which coacts with a further lever 8 stressed by a spring 1, articulatedat 6, and bearing against a pin 9.

The coin coming ldown the chute I strikes against'thelever 3 thereby rocking the latter into the position indicated in broken lines and then falls on down into the coin container (not shown in the drawings). As soon as the lever 3 is rocked the lug 5 liberates the lever 8 which, however, remains in its position as long as it rests upon the pin 8. Only after the pin 9 has been moved out lof the path of the lever 8, in a manner to be described in clue course, is such lever liberated, and rocked by the spring 1 into the position indicated in broken lines.

Beneath the lever 8 there is provided a shiftable rod I0 the lower end of which coacts with a pawl I2, stressed by ay spring II, for the Maltese cross I3 of the coin delivering mechanismv Il. When the lever 8 moves from the position shown in full lines into that indicated in broken lines n3) the corresponding ball runs into the front compartment of the roulette-cylinder, and the player sees the ball drop out through the chute l3 which may if desired be made transparent. If

the player deci-des on any other mode of .playing n v the ball passes into a corresponding rear compartment of the roulette-cylinder, and the player would not therefore see the ball at all. It is however conducive to the attractiveness of the game, and enables the player to follow better what is happening, if the player can see the ball running Y whatevermode of playing is selected. 'I'his result can be achieved in a simple manner by causing each of the levers c1, c2, c4 and c5, by means of suitable transmission elements, e. g. the linkage z indicated in Fig. 2 to coact with Athe lever c3, whereby the ball allotted to the foremost compartment of the roulette-cylinder is liberated. In this manner whenever. any one of the levers c1, c2, c4 and c5 is rocked by the dropping coin and the corresponding turnstile e1, e, e4 or e5 liberated the turnstile e3 is alsoat the same time released,

so that invariably two balls come down; namely the one allotted to .the foremost compartment of the cylinder, which is visible to the player as it runs, and the ball corresponding to the mode of playing selected. 'I'he holes K in the periphery of the cylinder are so distributed in the individual sections thereof that the same numbers appear on the same generatrices, so that 'the front ball always passes through a hole corresponding to it presses against the upper end of therod I8,

shifts this latter downwards, and thereby causes the pawl I2 to be rocked againstithe action of the spring II, with the result that the Maltese cross I3 is liberated and coins delivered. Y

For playing a single number there is used a setting yindicator knob (Fig. 10) the spindle of which is coupled by leverage I6 with 'asetting lever I8 pivoted about the pin I1, The pin I'I. is so designed that when the settlngyindicating knob IB is operatedthe lever I8 can be rocked in a plane parallel to the roulette-disc (i. e. in

the direction indicatedby the double'arrow III in Fig. 9) while being additionally capable, in a manner to be described in duecourse, of receiving a supplementary pivotal movement and of slight extent in a direction at right angles to the plane of the roulette-disc.

'Ihe perforated-disc R. has a central circular surface R1 over which the holes 23 corresponding to the individual numerals )1"36 and "0" are distributed according to acertain plan. The

holes in this circular area are intended for playing an individual number. Adjoining the circular area R1 are four-concentric annular rings 113-1?.5 which correspond to the other modes of playing referred to in connection with the constructional example shown in Figs. 1-7 of the drawings. In each of these' annular ringsl there is provided a complete set of holes a few only of which are indicated in the drawings, for the sake of csimplicitya.-V

The setting lever I8 canbeso adjusted that its free end is approximately in the centre of the roulette-disc when in. the one end position and the same number in all the compartments and `lreaches out to theperiphery of the circular area.

the surface of the roulette-disc, the lever Il is furnished with a pin 2| and is so pressed against 'the roulette-disc by a cam I! that,the pinv 2| brushes against the disc. If, after the playing of a certain number, the lever Il occupies a certain position, and the roulette disc, after the running mechanism has come to a standstill, is in such a position that the pin 2| is opposite a hole 23, then the pin 2| is forced into the hole concerned, by the action of the cam I9. To the lever i8 there is attached an arm 22 on the lower end of which there is provided 'a stud S'actingas a stop for the lever l. 'Ihe arm 212 is so connected with the setting lever Il that this lever i8 is rockable 'independently of the arm 22 when the setting knob Ii is rotated, so that the arm 22 does not alter its position and the stop l therefore continues to retain the lever l in the locking position, but is carried along when the pin 2| enters one of the holes 23 (whereby the lever Il is rocked slightly in a direction at yright angles to the roulette-disc), so that the stop 9 is moved out ofthe path of the lever 8, and thus frees this latter to release the coin discharging mecha.- nism.

'I'he abovev described contrivance operates as follows: The player sets the knob I tov the selected numeral, lwith the result that the lever I8 is also correspondingly rocked. 'I'he coin is then inserted, with the result that in the above described manner the releasing mechanism for the coin discharge device is put in readiness for operation. The roulette-disc is then set in rotation, and there will be two possibilities,.narnely (l) the roulette-disc comes 'torest in such a' position that none of the holes 2l comes opposite the pin 2|. In this case the ,lever Itundergoes no supplementary rocking towards they roulette-disc, the arm 22 and with it the stop 0 remain unalteredvas to position, the lever I remaining blocked, the releasing means for the coin discharge device are not brought into action, and the player has lost; (2) the roulette-disc comes to a stand.

still in such a position that. the pin 2| is oppo- 'site one of the holes 2l; in this case the pin 2| is forced into 'the hole in question, and the stop I moved out of the path ofthe lever 8 in the de- 2,245,150 l R1 in the other end position. On the side facing discharging umechanism and the setting lever coacting with these means are provided in five sets, one for each mode of playing. There are thus ilve coin slots each with a vertical coin chute witheach of which 'a releasing device for the coin discharging mechanism coacts. 'Ihere are 'likewise five setting dials for selecting the mode of playing. Each of these dials coacts with one of a set of adjusting levers Il, and each of these adjusting levers has a range of movement which is coextensive with the width of the appropriate one of the annular rings RL-R of the roulettedisc R.. Each of these sets of 'mechanism is exactly the sameas that described for playing a single number.

In this example thereleasing of the coin discharge mechanism is eected by the provision in the roulette disc of holes into which the pin 2| on the adjusting lever Il drops thereby actuating .the stop- (Fig. 9),. Alternatively, instead of the holes 23 in the roulette-disc there may be provided'contacts with which the pin 2| or a suitable part of the adjustable lever i8 is able to come in contact and thereby to close a `current circuit comprising a relay or the like-adapted to eeci; the releasing operation of the stop 9.

' numbers 1 to 36 and` zero simuany to a minette' We claim: A

Coin freed apparatus comprising in combination.`a casing, a first visible rotary disc with differently coloured areas corresponding to the wheel mounted in the front surface of the casing, a second disc coupled to the first disc, perforations in the second disc corresponding to the numbers 1 to 36 and secondary holes therein each vcorresponding to a group of such numbers, means released by the insertion of a coin for driving both'discs and for braking their rotaryV movement after a pre-determined duration of rotation,

scribed manner, so that this lever is completely A vertical position. Immediately before this rod' Il is forced upwards againby the spring I| and takes the lever l along with it to become thereby rocked back again into the normali position in which it is xed by the stop i, so that all the pai-ts reassume their initial positions and are in `readiness for the next cycle of play.

The described means for releasing the money an index mounted visibly upon the first disc adapted to indicate a'selected' area of the disc when the latter is at rest, al,plurality of manually operated rotary knobs serving as selectorsv movable in relation to the second disc and mounted in the front'surface of the casing, one knob at least permitting the selection of a group of numerals (black,`red, even, odd), a setting lever positively connected to each knob, each setting lever'being adapteds'to move parallel to the plane of the perforated disc and also at right angles thereto, a pin carried by each setting `lever which at the vertical movement aforesaid enters one of the holes inthe perforated disc, an eccentric member in engagement with each setting lever for vertically displacing same relatively to the A the selected number corresponds with that indicated by the index after the visible disc has com torest.

RUDOLF PETER. HEINZ BIAL. 

